Important small town in South Africa in a state of anarchy with police running away from criminals
The High Court in Makhanda, Eastern Cape, has slated the SA Police Service (SAPS) for its continued failure to maintain law and order in the small town of Ngcobo.
Ngcobo is the main town of the Engcobo Local Municipality, which is part of the Chris Hani District Municipality in the Eastern Cape.
It is situated along the R61 and is surrounded by the towns of Cofimvaba, Dutywa, Mthatha, Elliot and Cala.
The town has a rich history. The All Saints mission station was founded in the Xuka valley in 1859, and the town’s magistracy was later established.
Although both were temporarily burned down during the amaQwathi rebellion of 1879, the magistracy was re-established in 1881.
Ngcobo played a significant role in the history of South Africa. It was the birthplace of former ANC president Alfred Bathini Xuma and ANC stalwart Walter Sisulu.
Other politicians, including UDF stalwart Canon Mcebisi Xundu and Mondli Gungubele, also hail from Ngcobo.
Former President Nelson Mandela received his secondary education at the Clarkebury Boarding Institute in the town. His first wife, Evelyn Mase, also came from Ngcobo.
The area is known for its natural beauty, and it attracts visitors through its cultural offerings, which include cave paintings, forests, and traditional Xhosa communities.
Despite its cultural and political significance, Ngcobo has faced significant challenges in the new democratic South Africa.
These challenges include high poverty levels, infrastructure backlogs, crime, and issues in local governance.
There is a high dependency ratio, indicating that a large portion of the population relies on social grants, which highlights a lack of sufficient local economic opportunities.
There is also a high incidence of gender-based violence in the community, a major social ill that requires targeted intervention.
Ngcobo is in a state of anarchy
Intercape CEO Johann Ferreira said Ngcobo is in a state of anarchy, with the police running away when facing taxi operators.
Intercape is a prominent long-distance intercity coach company based in South Africa, operating an extensive network across several countries in Southern Africa.
In recent years, the bus company has been under attack from taxi operators in the Eastern Cape. The SA Police have failed to stem the violence against the company.
Intercape brought an urgent application to compel the police to act against the perpetrators and protect the bus service.
In the ruling, the High Court in Makhanda blasted the South African Police Service (SAPS) for its continued failure to maintain law and order.
Intercape has accused police officers in Ngcobo of running away in the face of violence and intimidation by local taxi operators.
Their failure to maintain law and order in the region means it leaves members of the public to fend for themselves.
Acting Judge Brody said it must be impressed on the police that they must comply with this order, as there appears to be a state of anarchy in the town.
Brody added that it is unthinkable that Intercape must continue to come back to court to force the SAPS to comply with its constitutional and statutory obligations.
Intercape has warned that Ngcobo is in “a precarious and dangerous position, where one small incident could ignite serious violence, disorder and public harm”.
The company further warned that this could spread to other towns in the region in which the company operates.
The situation is especially volatile due to the upcoming festive season, which is typically the busiest time for long-distance bus companies.
CEO calls for removal of SAPS leadership
The Intercape CEO stated that the courts have issued a series of damning rulings against the police and the ministers of police and transport.
The same goes for their provincial counterparts. However, the violence and intimidation against Intercape continue unchecked.
“We now have the ridiculous sight of members of the police running away from their own police station when confronted by members of the local taxi industry,” he said.
“South Africa is being overrun and run by criminals, as we have seen with the current Madlanga Commission.”
Ferreira called for the removal of the top leadership of the South African police, to be replaced by capable, efficient and courageous members.
He said the new leadership should be committed to upholding the law and drawing a line in the sand against criminality.
In May 2025, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police expressed concern about the low arrest figures for perpetrators of attacks and extortion against his company.
To date, Intercape has opened over 200 cases with the police, ranging from murder and attempted murder to intimidation and extortion.
However, despite these cases and the numerous court rulings, not much action has been taken by the SAPS.
Ian Cameron, the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police, raised serious concerns about the issue.
“It remains concerning that of the 300 cases reported between Golden Arrow and Intercape, no arrest has been made by the police,” he said.
“The arrest and prosecution of perpetrators is the only logical deterrence against such cowardly acts,” Ferreira added.
Protests in Ngcobo, courtesy of GroundUp
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